Translated by NicoleF1 | Turun Sanomat 22.11.2012 22:24Heikki Kovalainen will drive his F1-career’s 109th GP on Sunday. It looks like it might be his last race. At least the contract with Caterham isn’t even a bit closer than it has been earlier...Continue reading here

Ericsson was a huge let down in GP2. van der Garde a disappointment almost every season in single seaters really, bar that WSR winning year. Clos was never quick, only solid at his best. Chilton nowhere near good enough except for some progress this season even then hardly convincing. Valsecchi and Razia have come good now and maybe - MAYBE - deserve a shot, but showed very little every year until now.

I'm all up for trying new drivers sure... but only as long as they're actually promising.

Well it's all starting to wind up now. Shame for Kamui though, I don't think he's going to be able to get another seat as he seems to have no budget. But Gutierrez does deserve the opportunity so it's not all bad. Pic deserves to stay too, not sure why he sidestepped to Caterham, unless Marussia already finalised drivers some time back.

So what's left? I'm guessing Grosjean confirmed at Lotus, Maldonado and Bottas at Williams, Di Resta and someone at Force India and Glock and Chilton at Marussia. HRT is almost certainly gone.

Well it's all starting to wind up now. Shame for Kamui though, I don't think he's going to be able to get another seat as he seems to have no budget. But Gutierrez does deserve the opportunity so it's not all bad. Pic deserves to stay too, not sure why he sidestepped to Caterham, unless Marussia already finalised drivers some time back.

So what's left? I'm guessing Grosjean confirmed at Lotus, Maldonado and Bottas at Williams, Di Resta and someone at Force India and Glock and Chilton at Marussia. HRT is almost certainly gone.

Bianchi and Guttierez in F1 next year? If you thought Grosjean was bad...;)

It will also be disappointing if Bianchi and Gutierrez who have won nothing since 2009 and 2010 respectively make it to F1 ahead of drivers like Robin Frijns. I understand that it's how the system works, but still...

Could Frijns do DTM in combination with F1 testing, in order to hone his racecraft?

Please no, just no. No sub-par driver like him deserves a chance at a fourth team. This has to stop.

I know! Why does such a below average driver receive so many chances when we have decent drivers getting booted out! Please Force India, I respect you a lot.. Take a good driver like Sutil, Jaime, Kobayashi. Anyone who has shown some promise!

I know! Why does such a below average driver receive so many chances when we have decent drivers getting booted out! Please Force India, I respect you a lot.. Take a good driver like Sutil, Jaime, Kobayashi. Anyone who has shown some promise!

Totally squandered that Williams. I don't doubt Pastor is fast, but judging by Pastor's 2011, any of those 3 drivers could have delivered more points and maybe even another few podiums in the Williams - and certainly eclipsed Senna, who struggled to beat Q1.

So FI will have a driver not at the level of Hulkenberg (Di Resta) and either a troublesome rookie, or one of the least impressive drivers in recent years? Not good for 2013.

Marussia seem to be making progress and will probably end the season in front in the WCC.

Pic - Multi-year deal in another team.di Grassi/D'Ambrosio? (I don't mean this as a slight against either driver. I feel they were slightly hard done by by having the 2nd seat in that team.)

Sure he's not stepping up the grid much, but he's been given the opportunity to have a second season and hopefully impress a bit more.

As it is, I still see Caterham as being a bit in front. Singapore was the only time this year that a Marussia finished first out of the 2 teams. It just happened to be the highest placing either team achieved.

Marussia seem to be making progress and will probably end the season in front in the WCC.

I think it is.

Marussia have a single 12th place and 3 14th places, with an average finishing position of 17,7 plus 6 retirements. Caterham have 3 13th and 3 14th places with an average finishing position of 16,7 and 3 retirements.

Marussia have a single 12th place and 3 14th places, with an average finishing position of 17,7 plus 6 retirements. Caterham have 3 13th and 3 14th places with an average finishing position of 16,7 and 3 retirements.

Not a huge step, but a step nonetheless.

In the second half of the season the Marussias have often been very close to the pace of the Caterhams. Next year, with KERS, they should be faster.

That's a huge shame. It's gone over my head that he isn't even in the running.
... and how realistic is it that he'll come back for '14? He's very good, but he isn't of such calibre that the teams will trip over themselves to secure him.

Am I the only one wondering what has happened to Formula 1? Many talented drivers are kicked out of F1 to make space for drivers who just buy their seats. I'd like this to be a pinnacle of racing where the best teams and fastest drivers battle to see how takes the crown. Now half of the grid is filled with mediocre drivers who are there just because they have lots of money. Is this really the direction where this sport is going?

Am I the only one wondering what has happened to Formula 1? Many talented drivers are kicked out of F1 to make space for drivers who just buy their seats. I'd like this to be a pinnacle of racing where the best teams and fastest drivers battle to see how takes the crown. Now half of the grid is filled with mediocre drivers who are there just because they have lots of money. Is this really the direction where this sport is going?

What do you mean heading? Apart from a brief lull when the manufacturers dominated the grid, there have always been pay drivers depriving others of seats. It's not ideal but we've got to consider ourselves lucky we no longer have the truly awful Ide's guys anymore.

I'm sure Vitaly's manager said he will race in Russia at 2014. Looks like Van Der Garde will get the drive then.

Yuck. At least Gutiérrez has shown flashes of great pace, balanced with shooting himself in the foot more than occasionally, this guy has done nothing at all in GP2 other than stay as long as the money lasts. That move would be much more annoying.